Damita, Lili (1901–1994)

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Damita, Lili (1901–1994)

French-born actress. Born Liliane Marie Madeleine Carré in Bordeaux, France, July 19, 1901; died in Miami Beach, Florida, Mar 21, 1994; m. Errol Flynn (actor), 1935; m. Allen Loomis; children: (1st m.) Sean Flynn.

Leading lady who, though celebrated as a popular movie actress, achieved even greater celebrity as a result of her tempestuous marriage to Errol Flynn; became a music-hall star at 16 at the Folies Bergere, soon succeeding Mistinguett as the star of the Casino de Paris revue; acting career flourished in French, German, Austrian, and British silent films (mid-1920s); came to Hollywood; starred opposite Ronald Colman in film version of Joseph Conrad's "Rescue" (1928), followed by The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1929), one of Hollywood's last silent films; also appeared in Fighting Caravans with Gary Cooper (1931), Friends and Lovers (1931), The Match King (1932), This is the Night with Cary Grant (1932), and Brewster's Millions (1935), her last film; by mid-1930s, was an established superstar but ceased filming at time of marriage.

See also Women in World History.